So... are the Offensive woes Rivera's fault?

45 posts in this topic

I don't know whose fault it is. But as an Observer, for the past three seasons, this team has managed to find ways to stumble out of the gates instead of start off their season with a bang. I don't know if it's psychological, coaching staff, or no real Vet leadership to help set the right tone but NASA, the Panthers have a problem.

It's now starting to feel like every team that plays the Panthers want to win more than they do. Their energy level looks so different vs. the Panthers. It seems the Panthers just want to get through a game and not lose. Playing not to lose will give you more loses than wins. I also believe that way to much of the focus is on one part of this team. It seems you folks have become so dependent on your team's Offense that as so as they show any signs of weakness the rest of the team fall apart. That should not be the case.

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There are ways to make an offense work with the o-line we have. Especially when you have players like Ginn and Smith and Olsen and a laser rocket arm like Cam's. We showed that on the two scoring drives. It was excellent, efficient, impressive football. Cam wasn't pressured because he had receivers open right away instead of waiting for the route to develop and as a result he was close to perfect.

You scheme to have success with the players you have. You don't create a scheme independent of your players and then try to shove them into it. We had enough of that last year with Chud trying to force our RBs to fit the option.

Shula decided (probably with pressure from both Rivera and the media/fans) that he was gonna be "aggressive" this week with passes down field and more read option stuff. Both of these things translate to slow developing plays where the o-line has to hold a block. Instead of saying "This is the plan, whether the line can pull it off or not," he should have said "Let's come up with a plan to work around our line and get the most out of our players."

And there lies the ultimate problem with not only this team, but the mentality of way to many of you on this site. We can win because we have about five guys on the Offense who can do it all. Just because Cam is athletic doesn't mean everyone shouldn't be out there doing everything to earn their keep. As I've stated before, you guys put way to much expection on Cam. U want to preserve your QB, not wear him out running from other teams defense because you folks are more than happy to settle for mediocrity from the rest of the team.

Here is an example to counter your logic. I was watching the Skins vs. Packers game where the Rogers was putting a nice beat down on RG III and the Skins. The first thing that came out of one of the Analysts mouth was Rogers needing more protection from his O-line. Mind you, Rogers had an over 400 yard game. He was kicking butt and taking names but he was sacked 4 times and in the eyes of those Analysts, those were four to many.

Another example of the importance of EVERYONE doing their job and not leaving everything up to the QB. The Gaints game. After the Broncos vs. Gaints game, one of the Analyst stated that the problem with Eli throwing so many INTS was because there is way too much pressure on him to help his team because the defense was/is not stepping up. He is feeling the pressure to carry the Giants. Yet, with some of you on here, you're okay with hodge podge of players who is suppose to protect Cam. You didn't seem to have much of a sense of concern with how your defense was playing the past two season and since they have finally showed up some this season, you're ready to give them gold medals. But, you expects SO much more out of one human being and a couple of others, while settling for mediocrity from the rest. Why is that?

From what I've observed with the media, the Panthers aren't a team they have chosen to succeed in the NFL so they are not going to spend a lot of time stating what it the real obvioius deal with this team. Instead they will simply play the Rable-Rousers and let you fans dictate what their talking points will be. They also have made it more than clear that they don't care for Cam because he does not fit their image of a perfect QB despite his talents. So, they while they will scream at the teams and fans for them to do more to protect the livelihood of their Franchised QB, they are more than happy to sit and let the Panthers and fans destroy Cam both physically and mentally. They have already seen what you guys did with other QBs.

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If Rivera allows the Panthers to go for a TD on that last drive, the Panthers win, and score 27 pts.

I put that squarely on Rivera.

More importantly; you keep picking on the offense, when it's the alleged "vaunted" defense that keeps blowing games (and the head coach that repeatedly believes in them), after the offense gave them a lead.

It's clear Rivera held back the offense on that last drive (why would you not even try for a TD, knowing you could still lose the game, if the other team score a TD). What was the defenses excuse down the stretch? Once again, they made another QB (this time a rookie) appear like the reincarnation of Joe Montana.

In my eyes, there's more than enough blame to go around, but it all falls squarely on Rivera, cause he didn't even try to win late in the game.

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There are ways to make an offense work with the o-line we have. Especially when you have players like Ginn and Smith and Olsen and a laser rocket arm like Cam's. We showed that on the two scoring drives. It was excellent, efficient, impressive football. Cam wasn't pressured because he had receivers open right away instead of waiting for the route to develop and as a result he was close to perfect.

You scheme to have success with the players you have. You don't create a scheme independent of your players and then try to shove them into it. We had enough of that last year with Chud trying to force our RBs to fit the option.

Shula decided (probably with pressure from both Rivera and the media/fans) that he was gonna be "aggressive" this week with passes down field and more read option stuff. Both of these things translate to slow developing plays where the o-line has to hold a block. Instead of saying "This is the plan, whether the line can pull it off or not," he should have said "Let's come up with a plan to work around our line and get the most out of our players."

True, even after that closing drive to end the half. You would have thought the Panthers would have ran the same type of plays over and over again till it didn't work anymore.

But no, the offense kept running the same long forming plays.

Nonetheless, at the end of the game, HC had no intention of scoring a TD. And the defense, once again allowed a QB march down the field towards the end of the game with no TO's and score a miraculous, last second TD

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First, I blame Richardson. It's time everyone gives this guy the blame he deserves. He kept Hurney here for so long, he hired a lame duck coach for cheap that no one else wanted (Rivera), and he continues to field mediocre teams. Then with Shula, it was Rivera's decision to choose him, probably because it was the "easiest and cheapest" decision, which hardly ever pans out. I then blame Gettlemen for not grabbing o-line talent when there was some to help this team. Face it, the coaching and front office, the owner, have all failed.

I agree, we're losing games in tight situation decisions, which is when coaches are supposed to shine, but Rivera has failed too much, he's a great defensive coordinator, and I'd love to have him at that, but as a HC, it's not happening. This is probably why so many other teams passed on him before us.

Then we come out this game, passing TOO much. We run the read option but NEVER have Cam keep it. That's not much of an option, it's more of a disadvantage for your RB when you do the same thing over and over. We need a offensive minded coach with some grit. Not sure about the grit, but I really wanted Andy Reid to be our coach. I thought he'd flourish in a smaller market. His team is now 2-0.

Our entire coaching staff is basically in over their heads, they have been for a couple years.